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Ifaty-Mangily is a village about 30 km north of Toliara (Tuléar) in southwest Madagascar. Ifaty was originally a pure fishing village, but due to its favourable location directly in front of a coral reef and its proximity to Toliara, the first tourist infrastructure developed in the 1970s: the beginning of Mangily. Today, both terms are often used synonymously, although they are actually still two independent but very close villages.

On the sandy beaches of the bay of Ranobe (translated “big water”) on the canal of Mozambique, travellers have a good opportunity to relax and unwind. The water is warm and the sun shines here more than 300 days a year. Ifaty has a number of well-equipped hotels and lodges for excursions with the zebu carts (Charettes), crayfish dinners, pirogue excursions or visits to the nearby Reniala reserve and the turtle village. Due to the unfortunately unfavourable security situation in the south of Madagascar, the spiny forests of the surrounding area should not be explored alone, and it is also advisable to always be on the road with local guides.

Diving schools in Ifaty offer guided dives along various parts of the coral reef, equipment can be hired on site. For beginners to experienced divers there are many possibilities to explore the sea and its colourful inhabitants. In some places, travellers even have the unique opportunity to get in touch with sharks under water. If you are not quite so brave or simply not a diver, you will find just as good opportunities for snorkeling. In August, with a bit of luck, you might even see whales passing the coast. The road to Ifaty was paved in 2016, it now takes just 20 minutes via the Route Nationale (RN9) from Toliara to Ifaty-Mangily.

 

www.madamagazine.com/en/strande-von-ifaty/

  

Ifaty-Mangily es un pueblo a unos 30 km al norte de Toliara (Tuléar), en el suroeste de Madagascar. Originariamente, Ifaty era un pueblo puramente pesquero, pero debido a su favorable ubicación directamente frente a un arrecife de coral y su proximidad a Toliara, en los años 70 se desarrolló la primera infraestructura turística: el comienzo de Mangily. Hoy en día ambos términos suelen utilizarse como sinónimos, aunque en realidad siguen siendo dos pueblos independientes pero muy cercanos.

En las playas de arena de la bahía de Ranobe (traducida como "agua grande") en el canal de Mozambique, los viajeros tienen una buena oportunidad para relajarse y descansar. El agua es cálida y el sol brilla aquí más de 300 días al año. Ifaty cuenta con varios hoteles y albergues bien equipados para excursiones con carros de cebú (Charettes), cenas con cangrejos de río, excursiones en piragua o visitas a la cercana reserva de Reniala y al pueblo de las tortugas. Debido a la desgraciadamente desfavorable situación de seguridad en el sur de Madagascar, los bosques espinosos de los alrededores no se deben explorar solo, y también es recomendable estar siempre de viaje con guías locales.

Las escuelas de buceo en Ifaty ofrecen inmersiones guiadas a lo largo de varias partes del arrecife de coral y se puede alquilar el equipo en el lugar. Desde principiantes hasta buceadores experimentados hay muchas posibilidades de explorar el mar y sus coloridos habitantes. En algunos lugares, los viajeros incluso tienen la oportunidad única de entrar en contacto con tiburones bajo el agua. Si no eres tan valiente o simplemente no eres buceador, encontrarás oportunidades igualmente buenas para hacer snorkel. En agosto, con un poco de suerte, es posible que incluso veas ballenas pasando por la costa. La carretera a Ifaty se pavimentó en 2016 y ahora se tarda solo 20 minutos por la Ruta Nacional (RN9) desde Toliara hasta Ifaty-Mangily.

 

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Take the invigorating short walk to the summit of Tomaree Head, 161 metres above the Port Stephens entrance. As you hike the 2.2km return track, you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of idyllic Port Stephens and its coastline. From the top, you can even see as far as Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah islands – these nature reserves are the world’s only nesting sites for the endangered Gould's petrel. When you reach the summit, enjoy panoramic views of Yacaaba Head, Cabbage Tree, Boondelbah and Broughton Islands from the north platform. From the south platform, views of Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches, Fingal Island and Point Stephens Lighthouse will be sure to impress. Be sure to check out the historic World War II gun emplacements. Take your binoculars as you might be lucky to see some dolphins. There’s a picnic table at the lookout, so if you have time, take a picnic lunch or some morning tea to enjoy as you take in the view. On the way back down, don’t forget to try Fort Tomaree walk. 47412

In the bay of the Mt Saint Michel, the tidal bore rises at an average of 3.6km/h hence the common expression: "Here, the sea rises at the speed of a galloping horse." This phenomenon is impressive and often surprises visiting tourists who can end up stranded if not following the surrounding authorities' advice or instructions.

 

If you happen to visit this architectural wonder, you must hire a guide and walk around the bay to experience this natural phenomenon. It is not uncommon for guided groups to stop and wait for the tide to reach their feet, to feel the uncanny force of the current rising to one's knees in seconds. Of course, local guides know the area like the back of their hands so this practice remains safe.

 

If you are lucky enough, you may even spot seals riding the current to catch a snack as life flows back into the bay!

Stringy - Indian Gray Wolf polishing off a Blackbuck kill. Truly a once in a lifetime sighting and in perfect light too!

Special thanks to Kartik Patel and local guides for making this image possible.

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Indian Gray Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

Date: Jan 2024

Location: Gujarat, IN

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm IS II + EF 1.4x III Extender

Settings: 1/2500s, ISO: 400, f/6.3 @840mm, Electronic Shutter, Handheld w Beanbag Support

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Roldana petasitis, also known as the velvet groundsel or Californian geranium, is a species of the genus Roldana and family Asteraceae that used to be classified in the genus Senecio. It is native to Central America.

Preferring constant heat and thriving in sheltered gardens, it is an evergreen subshrub with weak stems. Growing up to 1.8 m tall, it features large softly hairy, venated, palmate leaves that are 20 cm long and wide at most, with seven or more broad, blunt lobes. The 8 to 10 mm long, yellow flowerheads, like daisies, of about 6 ray ligulate petals are borne in foliaceous panicles. The plant blooms from winter to early spring. 4592

A Male Leopard who was called Tyson by the Local Guides.

Doppelgänger - It's amazing how similar this Bengal Fox looks to the North American kit foxes - if I didn't take this image myself, or know where this was taken, I'd assume this was a kit fox!

 

The similarity is superficial however, and is likely due to convergence - since both can be found in similar desert habitats. They do not share a recent common ancestor, aren't particularly closely related, and are found on separate continents, which makes the similarity even more intriguing to me.

 

Special thanks to local guides for making this image posisble.

 

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis)

Location: Gujarat, IN

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 600mm IS II

Settings: 1/2000s, ISO: 1000, f/4.5 @600mm, Handheld, Electronic Shutter

When a wild Puma (Puma concolor) (this adult female is called "Rupestra" by local guides) walks right past you and gives you this look, it literally leaves you breathless, for a moment. Thankfully she was pursuing a herd of Guanaco and had no intent to make this a permanent condition for us.

Small, plump bird with stout bill. Male mostly lime green with contrasting yellow belly and thin blue collar on nape and blue rump; some populations entirely blue above. Female similar but duller, with greener belly. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks, often in association with a fruiting tree. Forages at all levels, most frequently in the canopy.

 

This one was photographed in Northern Peru led by Neotropic Photo Tours and our Peruvian local guide for this portion of the trip; Fisher Chávez of Perú Nature Photography.

Second Wave, Coyote Buttes North

 

This is another shot from an early November trip out west with good friend and fellow photographer Kevin Benedict.

 

A short hike past the Wave you will find the "Second Wave." Although not as well known or as popular as its more famous brethren, it is well worth the additional wear and tear on the legs. As with the Wave, the Second Wave cannot be accessed without first obtaining one of the 20 daily permits via the Wave lottery. As noted in an earlier post, we were fortunate to obtain a permit for our last day out west, though it required hiring one of the local guides to attend the lottery for five days on our behalf so that we could continue to shoot in and around Zion National Park. If you are lucky or persistent enough to get a permit to shoot the Wave, don't pass up the opportunity to make the trek to the Second Wave as well. The best time to shoot is late afternoon as the setting sun illuminates the Second Wave while also casting a deep shadow on the distant cliffs in the background to isolate the beauty of this often overlooked rock formation.

 

Thanks for taking a look.

This snake found a sunny spot in the Madagascar jungle. No danger, according to our local guide.

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Usually, a mineral lick (also known as a salt lick) is a place where animals can go to lick essential mineral nutrients from a deposit of salts and other minerals. Mineral licks can be naturally occurring or artificial (such as blocks of salt that farmers place in pastures for livestock to lick).

Natural salt licks are common, and they provide essential elements such as phosphorus and the biometals (sodium, calcium, iron, zinc, and trace elements) required for bone, muscle and other growth in herbivorous mammals such as deer, moose, elephants, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, tapirs, woodchucks, fox squirrels, mountain goats, porcupines, and frugivorous bats.

Elephants are also known to dig known sources of salt below ground with their trunks and tusks and to feed on the blocks unearthed.

African elephants are members of the genus Loxodonta comprising two living elephant species, the African bush elephant (L. africana) and the smaller African forest elephant (L. cyclotis). Both are social herbivores with grey skin. However, they differ in the size and colour of their tusks as well as the shape and size of their ears and skulls.

Both species are at a pertinent risk of extinction according to the IUCN Red List; as of 2021, the bush elephant is considered endangered while the forest elephant is considered critically endangered. They are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, along with poaching for the illegal ivory trade in several range countries.

Loxodonta is one of two extant genera in the family Elephantidae. The name refers to the lozenge-shaped enamel of their molar teeth. Fossil remains of Loxodonta species have been found in Africa, spanning from the Late Miocene (from around 7-6 million years ago) onwards.

C318 -Still 2025-08-18 085620 elephant salt dig1_1.1.1-Enhanced-SR-nwm -s

Small and striking tanager, looks mostly black with shining blue head and straw-colored shoulder. Sexes alike. Most similar to Masked Tanager, but has dark (not white) belly and shoulder is buffier. Quite common in Andean foothills, with a disjunct population in Brazilian lowlands. Usually found in pairs or small groups, often following a mixed-species flock through the canopy. Occurs in forests, edges, and gardens.

 

This one was photographed in Northern Peru led by Neotropic Photo Tours and our Peruvian local guide for this portion of the trip; Fisher Chávez of Perú Nature Photography.

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El parque nacional de Ranomafana se localiza al sudeste de Madagascar en la provincia de Fianarantsoa. Tiene más de 41 600 ha de bosque húmedo, el parque es el hábitat de un buen número de especies raras de flora y fauna como los lémures. El parque fue establecido en 1991 con el propósito conservar la diversidad única del ecosistema local y reducir la presión humana sobre las áreas protegidas.

El parque nacional de Ranomafana forma parte de la denominación Pluviselvas de Atsinanana elegida como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en 2007. Desde 2010 también se incluye en la lista Patrimonio de la Humanidad en peligro.

La flora y fauna de este parque nacional se han sometido a estudios científicos intensivos. Varios estudios científicos se han publicado

es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_nacional_de_Ranomafana

  

Ranomafana National Park is a national park in southeastern Madagascar, in the Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy regions. It was established as Madagascar's fourth national park in 1991 following the rediscovery of the greater bamboo lemur (Hapalemur simus) and the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus) by the primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright.

The park protects more than 41,600 hectares (161 square miles) of tropical rainforest at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 m (2,645 to 3,937 ft) and is home to several rare species of plants and animals. It was later integrated into the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rainforests of the Atsinanana. The Centre ValBio research station is adjacent to the park and was created in 2003 by Stony Brook University for biodiversity research, community health and education, environmental arts, and reforestation.

The park's name is derived from the Malagasy words rano mafana ("hot water") due to the hot springs in the nearby town of Ranomafana.

The range of altitudes in the park produces a variety of forest types, including lowland rainforest and cloud forest. These forests support high levels of biodiversity. The park hosts 90 species of butterflies, 112 species of frogs, 22 species of lizards, 22 species of snake, and 118 species of birds, 30 of which are endemic to the park. Notable birds include ground rollers, blue vangas, short-legged ground rollers and brown mesites.

As with all national parks in Madagascar, a local guide is required for visitors entering the park. It has seven hiking trails that vary in length from 10 to 20 km (6.2 to 12.4 mi) and offer opportunities for birdwatching, viewing lemurs, and seeing waterfalls.

Talatakely has well-defined paths and stairs, although sturdy shoes should be worn as the path can be slippery when wet. Specialist guides can be arranged through Centre ValBio for excursions.

Kayaking or canoeing can also be arranged and a hot springs pool is located in Ranomafana.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranomafana_National_Park

 

The scientific name of Cattle Egret is Bubulcus ibis. Bubulcus means herdsman, and is highly appropriate as this bird is nearly always seen in the company of cattle (or other hoofed animals). But the name ibis seems odd as it is the name for a completely different bird. The ancient Greek authors recognised three different types of ibis; Glossy, Sacred and Bald. Fredrick Hasselqvist (1722-52) was a student of Linnaeus and then became one of his "apostles". Hasselqvist visited the Middle East (Asia Minor, Cyprus, Egypt and Palestine) to assist Linnaeus who regretted the lack of information from this region. During his time in Egypt his local guide persuaded him that the Cattle Egret was actually the Sacred Ibis of Ancient Egypt. Hasselqvist died on the way home from his trip but his papers reached Linnaeus, who perpetuated the myth by bestowing the scientific name ibis on the Cattle Egret; Ardea ibis. And once a valid name has been given, it cannot be changed, even if it is irrelevant or inappropriate. Though if an earlier valid name is discovered then the earliest name takes precedence. The genus name can change though, especially since DNA can now show relatedness that might not have been suspected when things were first named.

 

I photographed this impressively horned Highland Cow with attendant Cattle Egrets at Fairburn Ings in West Yorkshire.

Village Heubach ("hay creek"), Mögglingen and Lautern Rd. covered in mist, seen from Scheuelberg (Mt. Scheuel, 717 m) on the Swabian Alps, Albtrauf. Great thanks to my close friend, photographer-buddy and local guide Nicky: It was a great tour, which I enjoyed very much!! :-)

 

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Wish I knew more about this spot, but I really cannot remember the name of the place. Taken just outside of Jasper town, myself and a few others were on a wildlife spotting trip with a local guide. It was here we were hoping to catch some long horned sheep, but they were being decidedly shy, our guide was most upset as he sees them here all the time, but not on the day we went. So instead I took in the scenery which was rather beautiful. This is my last Alberta shot...Well for now, till I find a few more.

 

I shall not be around much later, so apologies if comments are scarce, back tomorrow!

 

I have a new seasonal gallery up and running 'Deck the Halls' if you are interested in taking a look. Thought it was about time I stopped being all Bahhh Humbug! A cracking collection of wonderful images by very talented people!

 

Jasper is located in the Athabasca River valley, at the confluence with Miette River. It lies between the Victoria Cross Ranges (northwest), Pyramid Mountain (north), Maligne Range (southeast) and Indian Ridge (southwest). Jasper is connected to the west via the Yellowhead Highway and the Yellowhead Pass to Prince George and to the east to Edmonton. Toward the south, the Icefield Parkway leads to Banff and Banff National Park.

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The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions have a prominent mane, which is the most recognisable feature of the species. With a typical head-to-body length of 184–208 cm they are larger than females at 160–184 cm. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator, although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur, and have been known to hunt humans, although the species typically does not. Typically, the lion inhabits grasslands and savannas, but is absent in dense forests. It is usually more diurnal than other big cats, but when persecuted it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. African lions live in scattered populations across Sub-Saharan Africa. The lion prefers grassy plains and savannahs, scrub bordering rivers and open woodlands with bushes. It is absent from rainforest and rarely enters closed forest. R_49216

Madison Valley, Yellowstone National Park

The famous Madison Valley Bobcat named Pajamas by local Guides. This Bobcat has an unusual taste for Water Fowl and can be found hunting along the Madison River looking for unsuspecting Ducks, Geese and Swans to prey on.

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